Taste Test: Who does Bangkok's best custard mooncakes? [VIDEO]
Ahead of this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival (Sep 27), we try out nine top custard mooncake contenders available in Bangkok.
9 years ago
See also: Who does Bangkok's best frozen yogurt? [VIDEO]
Mayflower (170g, B180)
This orange-tainted lump looks like it’s been laced with Thai tea. The texture is almost like playdough, while the taste is as sweet as the smell.
Verdict: Half-baked.
Dusit Thani, 946 Rama 4 Rd., 02-200-9000. MRT Silom
Mei Xin (48g, B855/4 pieces) (BK PICK!)
An aesthetic standout thanks to a golden brown crust, but this mooncake is more than just a pretty face. The flavor is sophisticated, with a crisp outer that gradates to a fudgy lava center. Though still sweet, it’s balanced out by the salted duck egg.
Verdict: Well worth importing here from Hong Kong.
Mooncake zone at Food Hall, G/F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 096-885-4874. BTS Siam
Xin Tian Di (150g, B188)
Vibrant orange and rectangular shaped, this mooncake lacks any aroma and leaves a weird aftertaste that outshines its not-too-sweet flavor.
Verdict: Something’s not natural here.
Crowne Plaza, 952 Rama 4 Rd., 02-632-9000. MRT Silom
Man Ho (170g, B148)
The sweet vanilla (some of our tasters even say floral) aroma stands out from this cake. A light yellow crust covers the more orange-y, super-soft interior. The sweetest of the batch, the flavor is quite one dimensional despite that vanilla hint.
Verdict: Oh sweet nuthin!
JW Marriott, 4 Sukhumvit Soi 2, 02-656-7700
Mandarin Oriental (50g, B708/8 pieces)
A shiny and refined piece of work, this golden little cake has little to distinguish the dough from the filling. Though the taste is well balanced and has a nice hint of vanilla, the texture is crumbly and seems uncooked.
Verdict: Handle with care.
48 Charoenkrung Soi 40, 02-659-9000
La Patisserie (174g, B230)
This, again, has a single texture from the crust to the filling, and also shares that dry, uncooked dough quality. We also pick up a slightly artificial aftertaste. Not much stands out.
Verdict: Average as they come.
The Okura Prestige, 57 Wireless Rd., 02-687-9000
Mei Jiang (50g, B650/8 pieces) (RUNNER UP!)
The best crust of the lot—crunchy, a bit crumbly with a nice appearance. There’s a slight burned note and the filling is well defined. The rich orange inner has an eggy and salty kick, but the whole thing is quite dry and easily falls apart when cut.
Verdict: Comforting stuff.
Peninsula, 333 Charoennakorn Rd., 02-861-2888
Baiyun (200g, B165)
The thick, doughy filling reminds us of a classic lotus seed mooncake, and takes up the bulk of this sizable contender. We detect very little custard at all, with a center that’s little more than a (very) salted egg yolk and traces of chopped nuts. The texture is chewy and pleasant.
Verdict: Almost too traditional.
Banyan Tree, 21/100, Sathorn Rd., 02-679-1200
Shangri-La (150g, B688/4 pieces)
A completely different beast, this cake features quite buttery dough that looks like kanom pia (Chinese puff pastry filled with mung bean paste). The creamy filling however is the least Chinese-tasting of the lot, more like European custard.
Verdict: Leftfield choice.
89 Soi Wat Suan Plu, Charoenkrung Rd., 02-236-7777
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